HANOVER, N.H. – The ninth-ranked Boston University men's ice hockey team broke a scoreless tie midway through the third period and went on to post a 3-0 victory over Dartmouth in the consolation game of the Ledyard National Bank Classic on Saturday at Thompson Arena. Sophomore Matt Gilroy recorded a goal and an assist and junior Karson Gillespie notched his second career shutout for the Terriers, who improve to 7-4-5 on the year.
Just seconds after killing off a five-minute major, the Terriers broke the scoreless deadlock when freshman Luke Popko scored following an interception just inside the Dartmouth zone. That would be all Gillespie would need, as the junior stopped all 21 shots he faced to win for the second time in as many starts.
Gilroy provided an insurance goal with under four minutes to play and senior Kevin Schaeffer, who returned to the BU lineup after missing four weeks, added an empty-netter to create the 3-0 final.
BU’s penalty kill, which killed off seven of St. Lawrence’s eight chances on Friday, was stellar again, keeping the Big Green 0-for-5 on power plays.
Junior Bryan Ewing received the five-minute major just under four minutes into the third for contact to the head/elbowing, giving Dartmouth a great chance to get on the board. However, after BU battled through the penalty unscathed, Ewing created the game-winner with an interception.
After sneaking in to steal the puck just inside the blue line, Ewing sent it over to Gilroy, who skated around the goal before finding Popko along the slot. Popko then sent a shot over the glove of Dartmouth netminder Mike Devine with 10:34 left in regulation.
BU made it a 2-0 affair at the 16:22 mark of the third after junior Ryan Weston broke up a Dartmouth rush, enabling the Terriers to start a rush of their own. Sophomore Chris Higgins brought the puck into the zone before finding Gilroy along the left circle, where he slipped a shot past Devine’s pad side.
Gillespie, making his second start of the season, didn’t face a shot until after the midpoint of the first period, but later on had to come up big on two shots within a minute of each other to keep the game scoreless.
Each team was whistled for a penalty in the final six minutes of the opening period, but neither squad took advantage of its power-play opportunity. The second period proved to be another defensive struggle, as neither team scored despite a combined five man advantages.
After recording just 10 shots on goal through the first two periods, BU had 15 in the third period alone to hold a 25-21 advantage for the game.
BU will return to action Friday, Jan. 6, when it opens up the 2007 portion of its schedule with a road contest against Providence at 7 p.m. The Terriers will be looking to sweep the regular-season series with the Friars after posting two home wins earlier this season.